SEBASTIAN — Local wood carver Joe Miller didn’t let a little flesh wound keep him from shaping other artists’ interests in wood carving during a demonstration at the Sebastian River Art Club.
“I got so afraid, I thought I cut the tip of my finger off,” Miller remarked before the demonstration.
Two dozen artists from around the area sat and listened to Miller and Francesca Pratten talk about the art of wood carving.
Miller said he found his love of carving at Yosemite National Park from the “Knotty Old Man” who was carving spirit faces.
“I carve almost every day of my life,” said Miller.
One of Miller’s pieces even landed in Hollywood with actor Johnny Depp. Miller met Depp’s father in an RV Club. His father noticed a cane with a skull in the works that Miller was carving. After giving Depp’s father the cane for Johnny, it appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
Miller belongs to the Indian River Woodcarvers Club. The club is up to about 100 members, both men and women from 13 to 93. They meet at the Moose Lodge in Vero Beach on 43rd Avenue on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to Noon.
In his bio, Miller says he loves to carve canes and walking sticks for Purple Heart Veterans, and likes to carve wild life as well.
“I would love to do this myself,” said Susan Lavender, who attended the demonstration Thursday.
Miller also carves “comfort birds” for people in retirement homes. “Rub it, and that’s where the comfort comes from,” said Miller.
During the demonstration, he showed and carved the different stages of a spirit face as Pratten described what he was doing to the audience.
“We carve in steps,” Miller said.
A spirit face is said to take four to six hours.
“You need to have sharp tools,” said Pratten. During the demo Pratten described the tools of the craft.
Also stressed was safety, as Miller showed gear, including a glove and vice that help keep a carver from accidental cuts. He also wraps his thumb and index finger in medical tape to help prevent wpunds.
“Band-Aids – always have Band-Aids ready to go,” said Miller.
Miller prefers using a vise – he said he is less likely to cut himself as much.
“It all goes together, it’s art and carvings, and painting,” said Miller. “What you create is what you want,” he added.
